The sum of four consecutive odd integers is –72. Write an equation to model this situation, and find the values of the four integers.

9514 1404 393

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the even integer between the middle two odd integers. Then the sum of the four odd integers is ...

  (x -3) +(x -1) +(x +1) +(x +3) = -72

  4x = -72

  x = -18

The four integers are -21, -19, -17, -15.

Additional comment

You could let x represent one of the integers. Often, people choose to let it represent the least of them. Then the equation becomes x +(x+2) +(x+4) +(x+6) = -72, so 4x = -84 and x = -21. This introduces a "subtract 12" step in the solution process that is unnecessary if x is chosen to be the average of the integers.

As the average, x is the sum divided by the number of them, so you know x=-72/4 = -18 immediately. Then you just have to find the nearest two odd integers below and above -18. You can do the whole problem mentally.

x = -2

y = 848

step-by-step explanation:

plug in the numbers

a

step-by-step explanation:

when a number is between two straight lines it means the absolute value.

to find absolute value you need to know how many numbers is that number away from 0.

when finding absolute value the number will always come out positive

so absolute value of -3 is 3

absolute value of 3/2 is 3/2

absolute value of -2 is 2

absolute value of 3.5 is 3.5

absolute value of -1 is 1

now put these numbers in order:

a)   |-1|, |3/2|, |-2|, |-3|, |3.5|